Optionally 17-alkylated 2-oxa-5alpha-androstane-3beta,17beta-diols, ethers and esters thereof



OPTIONALLY 17 -ALKYLATED Z-OXA-Sa- ANDRO- STANE-3[i,17fi-DI0LS, ETHERS. AND ESTERS THEREOF I Raphael Pappo, Skokie, 11]., assignor to G.'D. Searle &

C0,, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware v No Drawing. Filed Sept. 14, 1962,.Ser. No. 223,827

12 Claims. (Cl. 260-'-345.2)

The present invention pertains to novel'steroids characterized by a hemiacetal ring structure and to the fetliers- Patented Aug. 20, 1963 diborane or a dialkylborane, resulting in the instant optionally lfl-alkylated 2-oxa-3,17B-diols. The latter processes are specifically illustrated by the reaction of 17,8 hydroxy-l7u-methyl-5a-androst-l-en-3 -one in aqueous acetic acid with lead tetracetate and osmium tetroxide'to afford 17,8 hydroxy-l7m-methyl-l-oxo-l,2-seco-A nor-aandrostan-Z-oic acid, reaction of that substance-with soand esters derived therefrom. These organic substances are represented, more particularly, by the structural-fiermula out wherein R can be hydrogen or a lower alkanoyl radical,

dium borohydride in aqueous sodium hydroxide to yield 17/3 hydroxy-17a-methyl-2-oxa-5a-androstan-3-one, and partial reduction of the latter lactone with dibor-ane to aiford a mixture of l-7a methyl-2-oxa-5u-androstane-313,

17fi-diol and the corresponding 3a,17- B-epimeric diol; These epimers are separated by fractionalcrystallization.

Esters of the above-described 3,17fi-di0ls are obtained by reaction of the latter substances with a suitable acylating" agent, i.e., an alkanoyl halide or alka-noic acid anhydride, in the presence of a suitable acid acceptor, for

R is hydrogen, a lower alkyl or lower alkanoyl radical, Y

X is hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical, the dot-ted line indicates the optional presence of a 4,5-double bond, and the wavy line indicate-s the alternative a or 3 configuration at carbon atom 3. I

The lower alkanoylradicals encompassed by. Rand R are, typically, 'formyl, a'cetyl, propionyl, bntyryl, Valeryl, caproyl, and the branched-chain isomers thereof; Examples of lower 'alkyl radicals symbolized bythe R and X terms are methyl,-ethyl, propyl, 'butyLfp'entyl, hexyl, and the branchedphain radicals isomeric therewith.

The compounds of the presentdnvention are conven iently manufactured by utilizing starting materials of the structural formula wherein X is a carbonyl, fi hydroxymethylene, or ot-(lower alkyl)- [3-hydroxymethylene group, and the dotted line example pyridineor triethylamine. This process is exemplified by the reaction of the aforementioned'Z-oxa-Saandrost-ane-3p,17fl-diol with acetic anhydride and pyridine at r'oom'temperature to yield 2 oxa-5a-androstane-3fl,17B- diol 3,17-dia-cetate. The instant 17-alkyl-3,17/3diols, on the other hand, yield the corresponding 3-monoesters when subjected to that procedure. When anelevated temperature is used, however, the 17a-alkyl-3,17fi-diol 3,17- diester's are produced. i g

The-unusually reactive hemiacetal hydroxy group at the 3-position will react Witha lower alkanol under mild conditions, e.g., in the presence of an acidic catalyst at room temperature, to produce the 3-(loweralkoxy) compounds of the present'invent-ion. Typically, Hot-methyl- 2-oxa-5a-androstane-3fi,17/3-diol is contacted with meth-' I anol in the presence of p-toluene-sul fonic acid to aiford 17a methyl- 2:0xa-5oc-androstane-3fl,17fl-diol 3-methyl ether. 7

The com-poundsof" this invention are useful in view of their valuable pharmacological properties. They are, for example, anabolic agents which possess the particular advantage of lacking potent androgenic side-eiiects.

The invention will appear more fully from the examples which follow. These examples are set forth by way of illustration onlyfand it will be understood that the inventionis not to be construed-as limited in spirit or in scope by the details 'contained ther'ein as many modifications in materials and methods will be apparent from this'disclosure to those skilled in the art. In these examples, temperatures are given in degrees centigrade C.), and quanindie-ates the optional presence of a 4,5-doub1e bond.

The reaction of these materials with a suitable oxidizing agent such as lead tetracetate or an alkali metal periodate, in the presence of osmium tetroxide, results in cleavage of the 1,2-double bond to produce the corresponding 1,2-

seco-A-nor compounds, as represented by the structural formula wherein X has the identical meanings "designated supra.

partially reduced by means of a selective reagent such as tities of materials are expressed in parts by weight unless otherwisenoted.

Example 1 and IZOparts of acetic acid containing 15 parts of water The aqueous extracts are acidifiedwith dilute hydrochloric acid, then are extracted with a mixture' of ethyl acetate and benzene, This organic extract is washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and evaporated to at reduced pressure. Theresult-ing residue is dissolved in 20 parts of pyridine, then treated with '10 parts of 20%aiqueous sodium bisulfite. This mixture is stirred tor about 20minutes at room temperature, then is diluted I with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The aqueous layer is separated and acidifiedby means of dilute sulfuric acid, and this acidic 'mixtureis then extracted with benzene, The benzene extract riswashed with water,'dried overflanhydrous sodium s ulfateiandrconcentrated todryness in vacuo to afford 1,17-dioxo-1,2 seco-A-nor-5a-androstan-Z-oic acid.

To a solution of 2 parts of l, l7-dioxo-1,2seco-A-n-or- 5a-androst2in-2-oic acid in 20 parts of water containing'4- parts of 20% aqueous sodium hydroxide is added a solution of 10 parts of sodium borohydride in 80' partsxof water. This mixture is stored at room temperature for about 24 hours, then is washed with ether and acidified with aqueous hydrochloric acid. The resulting mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate-ether, and the organic layer is separated, washed successively with aqueous potassium carbonate and water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, then evaporated to dryness at reduced pressure. The crystalline residue is tritur-a-ted with ether, then is recrystallized from butanone to afford pure l7fl-hydroxy-2bxa-5a-androstan-3-one, melting at about 198-203".

Example 2 To a solution of 636 parts Of17,8-hYdTOXY-170t-fl'l'lfifllYl- 5a-androst-1-en-3-one in 95 parts of acetic acid contain-.

ing 12 parts of water is added 40 parts of lead tetracetate and 0.6 part of osmium tetroxide. This reaction mixture is then stored at room temperature for about 24 hours, after which time 2 parts of lead itetr-aacetate are added. Evaporation to dryness at reduced pressure affords a residue which is extracted with benzene. The benzene extract is Washed with water, then is extracted with aqueous potassium bicarbonate. This aqueous extract is washed with ether, acidified by means of dilute sulfuric acid, then is extracted with a mixture of ethyl acetate and benzene. The resulting organic extract is Washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrated to dryness at reduced pressure. To a solution of the residual crude product in 20 parts of pyridine'is added parts of 20% aqueous sodium bisulfite, and this mixture is stirred for about 20 minutes at room temperature, then is diluted with water, washed with ethyl acetate, aciditied with dilute sulfuric acid, and finally extracted with benzene. benzene solution is washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodiumsulfate, and evaporated to dryness at reduced pressure to produce crude l7p-hydroxy 17a methyl 1 oxo 1,2 seco A nor Socof sodium borohydride in 143 parts of diethyleneglycol dimethyl ether to a solution of 45 parts by volume of borontrifluoride etherate in 1143 parts of diethyleneglycol dimethyl ether. The addition of diborane is continued with stirring for about 1 /2 hours, at the end of which time the mixture is cooled to 0-5 and'diluted carefully with about 50 parts of water. After the evolution of hy- 1 drogen ceases, the mixture is stripped of solvent at reduced pressure, and the residue is extracted with chloro form. The chloroform layer is washed successively with aqueous sodium hydroxide and water, then is concentrated to dryness at reduced pressure. Recrystallization of this residue, first from aqueous acetone then from acetone,

androstan-Z-oic acid, melting at about l66l73 (dec) after recrystallization from aqueous isopropyl alcohol.

An aqueous slurry of 6 parts of -l7fi-hydroxy-l7amethyl-l-cxo-1,2-seco-A-uor-5a-androstan-2-oic acid with 200 parts of water is made alkaline to pH 10 by the addition of dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide, then is contacted with 6 parts of sodium borohydride. The resulting reaction mixture is allowed to stand at room temperature for about 3 hours, then is diluted with benzene and acidified carefully by means of dilute hydrochloric acid, The organic layer is then separated and the aqueous layer is extracted with benzene. The combined benzene extracts are washed successively with aqueous potassium bicarbonate and water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, then twapo-rated to dryness at reduced pressure. The resulting residue is triturated with ether to afford pure 175-hydroxy- 17a-methyl-2-oxa-5a-andnostan-3aone, melting at about 235-238 and characterized further by an optical rotation of 23 in chloroform.

Example 3 By substituting 6.65 parts of 17a-ethy1-17/3-hydroxy-5aandnost-l en-ii-one and otherwise proceeding according to the procedure described in Example 2, 17a-ethyl-17phydroxy-l oxo-l,Z-seco-Auor-Sa-andrOStan-Zbic acid and 17u-ethyl-17,8-hydroxy-2-ox-a-5a-androstan-3-one, melting at about 192-195 are obtained.

Example 4 'Into a suspension of 10 parts of 17B-hydroxy-17a- I affords prism-like crystals of 17a-methyl-2-oxa-5a-androstane-3fl,17B-diol, which is characterized by a double melting'point at 107-112 (dec) and 168l70. This compound is represented by the structural formula OH CH3 --CH3 Example 5 Into a solution of 18.6 parts of 2-methyl-2-butene in 190 parts of diethyleneglycol dimethyl ether, at 05 in an atmosphere of nitrogen, is passed a stream of diborane, generated by the reaction of 4 parts of sodium borohydride with 1 8.8 parts of boron trifluorideetherate. After the reaction mixture is stirred at this temperature for about 3 hours, 10 partsof 17B-hydroxy-2-oxa-5a-androstan-3-one is added portionwise, and stirring is continued for several minutes until themixture becomes homogeneous, at which time it is allowed to stand at that temperature for about 1-6 hours. The mixture is then diluted with 50 parts of water containing 5 parts of sodium hydroxide, then is treated dropwise with 40 parts of cold 30% hydrogen peroxide at a temperature of 545. Extraction of this aqueous mixture with chloroform affords an organic solution which is washed successively with water, 10% aqueous sodium sulfite, aqueous sodium hydroxide, and water, then is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and is stripped of solvent at reduced pressure. The resulting residue is extracted with ether, and the ether solution is stirred with water for about 2 hours. The crystalline precipitate which forms is collected by filtration and recrystallized from acetone to afford prism-like crystals of 2-oxa-5a-androstane-3B,17B-diol, which melts at about 189-190 and is characterized further by the structural formula OH CH3 I 0 Example 6 Example 7 A mixture of 5 parts of 2-oxa-5aaandrostane-3fi,17,8-

. die], 50 parts of acetic anhydride, and parts of pyridine is stored at room tempenaturefor about 16 hours,

then is concentrated to dryness at reduced pressure. The 1 resulting residue is crystallized from hexane to yield 2-oxa-5a-androstane-3 3,l7fl-diol 3,17-diacetate, melting at about 143145. This compound is represented by the structural formula C O C H3 CH3 O 0 H30 0 OK/; H

Example 8 The substitution of 63.7 parts of propionic anhydride in the procedure of Example 7 results in 2-oxa-5a-andro- I statue-3,3, 17,8-diol 3,17-dipropionate.

Example 9 The substitution of parts of 17a-methyl-2-oxa-5u-androstane-3B,17fi-diol in the procedure of Example 7 results in l7a-methyl-Z-oxa-Sa-androstane-3,8,17fi-dio1 3- acetate.

Example 10 The reaction of 5.46 parts of 17u-ethyl-2-oxa-5a-audro-,

stane-3B,17B-dio1 with 63.7 parts of propionic anhydride and 100 parts of pyridine according to the process described in Example 7 results in 17a-ethy1-2-oxa-5a-androstane-3/3,17fl-diol 3-propionate.

Example 1] CH3 om Example 12 By substituting 5 parts of 2-oxa-5a-androstane-3fi,1713- diol and otherwise proceeding according to the processes described in Example 11, 2-oxa-5u-androstane-3B,17fl-diol 3-rnethy1 ether is obtained. It is represented by the structural formula OH CH3(\ 0 CHaO-b, H

Extraction with benzene affords an organic r Example 13 The reaction of 5 parts of 2-oxa-5a-androstane-3B,175- diol with 575 parts of ethanol and 2 parts of p-toluenesulfonic acid monhydrate by the procedure described in Example I 11 results in 2-oxa-5a-androstane-3fi,17,3-diol 3-ethyl ether.

' Example 14 The reaction of 5 parts 'of l7a-ethyl-2-oxa-5a-androstane-3,8,17,B-diol with 575 parts of ethanol and 2 parts of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate according to the processes described in Example 11 results in 17a-ethyl-2- I oxa-5ot-androstane-3/3,17,8-diol 3 -ethyl ether.

I Example 15 (The substitution of 57.24 parts of 2-oxa-5a-androstane- 35,1713-dio1 3-methyl ether in the procedure of Example 7 results in 3-methoxy-2-oxa-Swandrostan-1718-01 17-,acetate, represented by the structural formula 'OCOCH: CH3

CHaOK/ What is claimed is: 1. A compound of the structural formula CH3 I wherein Rv is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkanoyl radicals, R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, and lower allranoyl radicals, and X is selected from the group consisting of'hydrogen and lower alkyl radicals.

2. 2-0Xa-5a-androstane-3B,17,6-diol.

3. A compound of the structural formula 4. l7a-methyl-2-0xa-Sa-androstane-3B,17,8-diol. 5. A compound of the structural formula 0 C 0 (lower alkyl) (lower alkyl) 0 O O-k/ 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE STRUCTRUAL FORMULA 